Rumors for Texas Rangers
Rangers extend Ian Kinsler
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The Texas Rangers have signed Ian Kinsler to a five-year contract extension worth $75mm, Jeff Wilson of The Fort-Worth Star Telegram reports. The deal also includes an option year with a $5mm buyout (deal worth $70mm), Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News adds. The Rangers hold a $10mm option for next season on Kinsler which Grant notes will be the first season of his new deal.
Last week we heard that Kinsler was concerned he may be “shortchanging himself ” by signing an extension now that ends up worth much less than what Robinson Cano will eventually earn when he signs his new deal. But at more than $14mm season, I don’t think he is short changing himself.
Last season Kinsler earned $6.2mm while hitting .255/.355/.477 with 32 HR’s, 77 RBI’s, 121 runs and a .832 OPS. He earned $193,750 for every home run he hit, or $80,519 for every RBI, $51,239.70 for every run scored, or $24,313.73 for every time he got on base.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Guy throws 13 perfect innings in MLB 2K12, doesn’t win the $1 million prize
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As some of you know, the guys from 2K Sports have this contest where you can receive $1 million for throwing the first perfect game in the MLB 2K game. This year, T.J. Brida was in the 14th inning of a perfect game when he gave up the first hit of the game to Pirates’ Jose Tabata according to Owen Good of Kotaku.com.
As Good points out, “the minimum requirement to advance is retiring 27 consecutive batters. Brida, using Roy Halladay of his beloved Phillies, sat down 40. But he didn’t get the last one.”
“Trust me, I was pretty pissed,” Brida told Good. Brida failed to score during 13 innings and that’s why he didn’t win the contest. On the website, there’s a nine minute video that begins in the bottom of the ninth and ends when Brida “punches the power button, and the screen goes dark.”
Image by SD Dirk under the Creative Commons License.
Rangers re-sign Brad Hawpe
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The Texas Rangers have re-signed Brad Hawpe to a minor league deal, Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com reports. He will open the season at Double-A.
Hawpe signed a minor league deal with the Rangers back in January that would have paid him $1mm if he had made them team. He was released last week after totaling just 6 hits in 26 Spring at-bats.
Last season in 62 games for the Padres, Hawpe hit .231 in 195 at-bats while hitting only four home runs and driving in 19 runs. His .231 avg, .301 OBP and .344 SLG were all career lows for Hawpe. In defense of Hawpe, he played his home games in pitcher friendly San Diego.
Image taken by SD Dirk and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
PRO Rumors 2012 Predictions
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The sweetest time of the year has come upon us with the start of Major League Baseball. We hope that you all take time to visit your favorite ballpark in the coming days (we know we will).
In the spirit of predicting the future, here are PRO Rumors’ 2012 predictions:
| Writer | National League West |
| Allan | Rockies |
| Ryan | Diamondbacks |
| Juan | Giants |
| Writer | National League Central |
| Allan | Cardinals |
| Ryan | Brewers |
| Juan | Reds |
| Writer | National League East |
| Allan | Marlins |
| Ryan | Phillies |
| Juan | Phillies |
| Writer | NL Wild Card |
| Allan | Dodgers, Reds |
| Ryan | Giants, Marlins |
| Juan | Rockies, Braves |
| Writer | American League West |
| Allan | Athletics |
| Ryan | Angels |
| Juan | Angels |
| Writer | American League Central |
| Allan | White Sox |
| Ryan | Tigers |
| Juan | Tigers |
| Writer | American League East |
| Allan | Red Sox |
| Ryan | Yankees |
| Juan | Yankees |
| Writer | AL Wild Card |
| Allan | Rays, Yankees |
| Ryan | Red Sox, Rangers |
| Juan | Rays, Rangers |
| Writer | MVP (NL, AL) |
| Allan | Buster Posey, Alex Rodriguez |
| Ryan | Joey Votto, Albert Pujols |
| Juan | Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera |
| Writer | Cy Young (NL, AL) |
| Allan | CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay |
| Ryan | Josh Johnson, Justin Verlander |
| Juan | Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez |
| Writer | RoY (NL, AL) |
| Allan | Bryce Harper, Yu Darvish |
| Ryan | Devin Mesoraco, Yu Darvish |
| Juan | Bryce Harper, Yoenis Cespedes |
Do you agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
Image by Sean Winters under the Creative Commons License.
Kinsler and Rangers talking six-year extension
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The Texas Rangers and second baseman Ian Kinsler are discussing a six-year extension, though the two sides have yet to agree on financial terms, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Kinsler will become a free agent after the season if the Rangers do not exercise his $10mm option for 2013, which in all likelihood they will exercise. The new deal would replace his option year and run through the 2018 season.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News notes that the two sides are set to meet Wednesday with the team likely to present a contract offer to Kinsler’s representatives.
Rosenthal notes that the hold up with the deal may be fellow second baseman Robinson Cano who is set to make $14mm and $15mm next season via a club option. Some believe that Cano will receive a significant pay raise as a free agent, something possibly in the neighborhood of $18mm a season. The Rangers though have already agreed to pay Kinsler more than Dan Uggla, who makes an annual average of $12.4mm per season. But Kinsler is concerned he may be “shortchanging himself ” by signing an extension now that ends up worth much less than what Cano will eventually earn when he signs his new deal.
Last season Kinsler earned $6.2mm while hitting .255/.355/.477 with 32 HR’s, 77 RBI’s, 121 runs and a .832 OPS. He earned $193,750 for every home run he hit, or $80,519 for every RBI, $51,239.70 for every run scored, or $24,313.73 for every time he got on base.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Rangers trade Kyle Hudson to Rays for future considrations
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According to Evan P. Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Rangers have traded outfielder Kyle Hudson to the Tampa Bay Rays for future considerations.
The Rangers signed Hudson to a Minor League contract in January of this year. In 14 games for the Balitmore Orioles in 2011, the 25-year-old Hudson hit .143/.143/.143 (4-for-28) with two stolen bases and two RBIs.
White Sox sign Conor Jackson
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The Chicago White Sox have signed Conor Jackson to a minor league deal, Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribute reports. Jackson had signed a minor league deal with the Rangers earlier this offseason where he hit .091 in 33 at-bats (3 hits) while striking out 5 times this Spring.
Last season, Jackson started the season off with the A’s before he was traded to the Red Sox at the end of August. In 390 plate appearances for both teams, he hit .244/.310/.341 with 5 home runs and 43 RBIs while striking out 53 times.
Jackson is a former number one pick in 2003 who has seen better days in his career. In 2003, he hit .300 with 162 hits and 75 RBIs.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
PRO Rumors Customer Survey
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Hi all,
With baseball season coming up, we’d like to poll our readers regarding our current features and see if you have suggestions regarding future features. We have a really short survey and we’re hoping that you can take less than 5 minutes to help us out. Thanks!
Allan
Rangers release Brad Hawpe
Posted by: | CommentsThe Texas Rangers have released Brad Hawpe, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Hawpe signed a minor league deal with the Rangers back in January that would have paid him $1mm if he had made them team.
Last season in 62 games for the Padres, Hawpe hit .231 in 195 at-bats while hitting only four homeruns and driving in 19 runs. His .231 avg, .301 OBP and .344 SLG were all career lows for Hawpe. In defense of Hawpe, he played his home games in pitcher friendly San Diego.
Image taken by SD Dirk and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Right hander Jon Hunton is looking for new representation
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Jon Hunton who was the closer of the year in Venezuela,reached out to PRO Rumors earlier this week and explained that he is looking for new representation. Hunton, 29, had a strong 2011 season both in the summer and the winter leagues respectively.
As part of the Grand Prairie AirHogs (The American Association of Independent Professional Basebal) Hunton was named “Reliever of the Year” in 2011 (link here). Hunton went 7-2 with a 1.77 ERA, 25 saves, 47 SO, 0.4 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9 and 8.3 SO/9 in 51.0 innings.
During the winter, Hunton was named “Closer for the Year” again (link here), but this time in Venezuela as part of the Caribes de Anzoategui. He was 2-4 with 3.16 ERA, 18 saves, 0.3 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9 and 7.0 SO/9 in 31.1 games. Then he was selected as a replacement for Tiburones de la Guaira in the Final and was Francisco Rodriguez’s setup man. He also represented Venezuela in the Caribbean Series .
While Hunton was in Venezuela he left a great impression among the other teams, players and the media. He was one of the first foreign players to report and stayed until the last game of the Caribbean Series, his commitment with the Caribes organization and the rest of the league was undeniable.
I had the opportunity to watch Hunton pitch in Venezuela at least a dozen times this winter. The first thing you notice about him is his height, Hunton is 6′9” with a fluid delivery. He’s not a flame thrower, but he will keep hitters off balance with his slider, which has nice movement. Also, his 3/4 delivery makes all of his pitches move. I believe he is a great athlete in good physical condition (he used to play basketball in College), he is also a strong competitor and he definitely showed that in Venezuela.
Most of you don’t have an idea of how hard it is to pitch in winter ball. Fans are harsh with their players and they will let you know when you’re not doing your job right. You have to face strong competitors, not only young Minor Leaguers, but also Major Leaguers as well. There’s also a lot of competitiveness here but Hunton cruised throughout the season without a sweat. This league has chewed up and spit out countless top MLB prospects, but Hunton wasn’t one of them.
Hunton was drafted five times during the June Amateur Draft, the last one in 2004 by the Chicago Cubs in the eleventh round. During his eight years as a professional player Hunton is a career 34-27 with 3.18 ERA, 0.5 HR/9, 4.0 BB/9 and 8.9 SO/9 in 453.1 innings. In 2010, he was 6-6 with a 3.57 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 3.6 BB/9 and 5.7 SO/9 in 63.0 innings for the A’s Triple-A team.
last offseason we had a Q & A with Hunton. Make sure to check that out if you haven’t.
Having the right representation can sometimes be the key to getting that tryout or invite to Spring Training that can open the door to a big league career. If you wish to contact Hunton you can write or follow him on Twitter (@Big_Jon_Hunton).
Image by Edixon Gamez of LiderEnDeportes.com.
